The new dominion. [volume] (Morgantown, W. Va.) 1876-1904, 1887-08-21
IN THE suNDAY-scHooL.
A Young sprig of the Law Has His First
Experience as . Teacher.

three O'Clock! I've got to start right
off to Sunday-school! I've got class.
you know! You'll come along, too.
won't you. George? You must eomel
You need it sadly enough, goodness
knowsi"
This was Eva. Eva Is sort of sew
enth cousin of mine, with charming
home just out of town. and was SUM-
daying there. Eva's papa has just
gone in pretty vehemently on an iron
mine up in Michigan; and. you see, I'm
nursing Eva along, so to speak. till l
see what that mine is going to do. So
/ said: why, assure You, nothing
could give me greater pleasure.
So we went; and 1. with the accus-
toned modesty of my profession (the
law skunk into back seat with the
intention of quietly twirling my
thumbs and otherwise utilizing the
time.
But hark!-a stealthy trcad-'tis the
superintendent!
Il am very much in need of another
teacher; one of my teachers is away to-
day. and won't you be good enough to
take his placer"
"Well, should rather say mott" l
remarked to my inner self. while out
wardly ! stammered: ..Why-thank
you, sir--but, rcally-it has been so
long since had such pleasure-that
really, ! fear l could scarcely-do
the subject Justice"
But the superintendent was quite
sure, ETC.; and after about five minutes
of this fascinating debate. during which
what seemed TO me about thousand
eyes were feasting upon my glowing
fcatures-my temperature having gone
from eighty-five to the ncighborhood of
eight hundred-my charming seventh
cousin came swaying swan-like down
the aisle, saying:
30, do ask him to take class; he
teaches class beautifully; only he
| needs little urgingr'
20, Sapphira, Sapphira. how the
modern nineteen-year-old. brown-eyed
Sunday-school teacher can leave you be-
hind when she wants tor
"You just take lesson paper and
ask the questions; they're all printed
there, you sec; and they answer them,
and that's ALL"
Hooked toward the door, but two
corpulent females stood there in pro-
tracted converse. To squeeze between
! them was impossible. The lowness of
the Intel precluded wild leap over
their heads, the windows were closed
and calked with cotton since the win
ter. So walked meekly down the
aisle, my heart throbbing with relig-
ious emotion, and took my place be-
fore my class. There they sat-ten
boys of them, waiting for the fray.
seized the lesson paper, there they
were, just ten questions of them, wait
ing to be asked. With an impressive
Sabbatical information | began dealing
out the ten interrogations from left
to right. Regarding the accuracy of the
answers the brevity of my preparation
did not permit me to form an authori-
tative opinion. Regarding their speed
there could be no question; and hardly
had begun before found myself at
the last boy, and my last question was
used up. looked around at the SUI
| perintendent to see if he showed signs
of closing the Office. but he appeared
to be right IN the midst of business
hours and was holding very cheerful
conversation with my aforementioned
Sapphiratical relative.
l gazed about at the other teachers:
they were all deep in the instruction Of
youth. The time for folding your tents,
like the Arabs, had evidently not yet
arrived. 1t was safe to say that I'd
got to ask that class some more ques-
tons Bright thought! I'll begin at
the other end. So / did, reading the
meager words as slowly and lingering
ly as possible. But there was again
at the last boy. I peered anxiously
around. The superintendent was still
chatting with enchanting obliviousness;
his able corps of assistants were still in
the heat and din of the engagement
Boys said /, striving as best
could to conceal my emotion, show
long does this last?"
ssTill four"
shot an eager glance at the ecclcsi-
astical time-piece over my head; it was
seventeen minutes past three.
my good" l checked myself.
was way up in front, where every body
could see. I'd got to keep things NOV
ing, or there'd be no end of scandal.
Calling up all the resources of well
disciplined mind, l speedily hit upon an
other plan, and asked my ten precious
questions all over again, making the
boys answer in concert This got rid Of
several minutes. 1t was now twenty.
six minutes past three. An awkward
pause; moment of intense thought
then had them answer. beginning al
the last question and going backward.
Then l had all the boys over twelve
years of age recitc in turn; then all
under twelve. 1t was now nineteen
minutes of four.
Then l began again at the first ques.
ton, making each boy stand up and
face the opposite wall, while he an
swered. Thirteen minutes and twenty.
nine seconds of four!
| Boys" said I, beginning to warn
TO the work; ''now stand up and an.
swcr these questions again, lifting your
right foot off the floor us you do so
now your left foot; now both feet '
Six minutes eighteen and nineteenth
seconds of four!
Boys" said l. hopping my dewy
brow, Il will ask you these question.
again; and, as each one is called up
he must first stand on his feet and re
peat his answer backwards; and thcr
stand on his head and repeat it side
ways"
had only, however, got as far as tn,
fourth boy when the bell rang and thu
school closed.
This happened three months ago
but my physician tells me it will yet b.
long time before can endure any
severe mental strain; and that mus
not think of resuming the onerous du
ties of my profession. tell you thi!
is pretty hard, when I had such fint
start. with nice, light Office and al
upholstered swivel-chair; and my let
ter-heads all printed and every thing
all ready for case.-J p Lyons, i,
Puck.